The Rohingya girls were going to Malaysia for marriage

A few Rohingya girls, who were rescued after a trawler capsized in the Bay of Bengal in Cox's Bazar, said they were going to Malaysia to get married there.

They heard by people familiar to them that locals in Malaysia, and expatriates there marry girls without taking dowry which led them take the risk of going to the country, the rescued Rohingya girls said.     

Bangladesh Coast Guard, and Navy Monday midnight recovered at least 16 bodies and rescued 71 after a-Malaysia-bound trawler carrying Rohingyas capsized in the Bay of Bengal in Teknaf. At least 52 people remained missing in the incident.

Two brokers were also detained over the incident, and they were being questioned about this, said M Hamidul Islam, commanding officer of Bangladesh Coast Guard.

Khatiza Begum of Shyamlapur Rohingya Camp said she risked going to Malaysia by trawler for nothing else but to get married and lead life with dignity.

"I have no father and none wants to marry without dowry that frustrated me about future. I came to know by the people familiar to me locals in Malaysia, and expatriates there marry girls without dowry. I dreamed a family life but luck did not favour me", she said.

With same intention, Roksana Begum, Hosne Ara, and Yeasmin from Madhurchhara, Jadimura and Lambashia Camps respectively boarded the trawler.

They said they were getting older in the camps without being married that prompted them to take risk for better future.

Among the rescued Rohingya women, there were some widows, and abandoned by husband. 

Two of them, Nur Banu and Salema Khatun, they were heading towards Malaysia with hope of job to make next days better but it remained unmet.

Mujibur Rahman, president of Saint Martin's Union Awami League, talked to the rescued Rohingyas and later disclosed these with Jago News.

Quoting rescued Rohingyas, Saint Martin's Union Parishad panel chairman Abdur Rob said brokers lured them marriage in Malaysia and in exchange took Tk 10,000 to 20,000 per person, pushing them to great risk.

Additional Superintendent of Cox's Bazar Police Md Iqbal Hossain said they started working to prevent human trafficking specially Rohingyas following Monday's shocking boat capsize.